Chapter 64

Claire’s POV

My gaze nearly burned a hole in a spot on the floor because I couldn't bring myself to face the Alpha’s wrath just yet.

And why the hell had the idiot barged into the room just like that?

It didn't help that the Alpha was still naked.

“Hello Cousin, it's so good to see you again.”

My head snapped up so fast at the sound of Alfie’s voice that I nearly broke my neck.

Cousin?

“You should have told me you were coming,” Alpha Kelvin replied in a bored tone.

I noticed that he hadn't even bothered to put on some clothes.

“You know just how much I love surprising you,” Alfie said, his eyes travelling down the length of the Alpha’s body.

“I see you still hate clothing,” he added.

“You know just how much I hate surprises…” Kelvin murmured and after a short pause added, “And if you don't stop looking at me like a pervert, I swear to the Goddess, I am going to have you skinned alive.”

A grin spread over Alfie’s features. “You’ve gotten more creative with the death threats. Well done.”

The Alpha glared at him for a couple of seconds before his lips slowly spread into a grin and his eyes lit up with delight.

“Where the hell have you been?”

“So you missed me after all,” Alfie replied. “Can I at least get a hug?”

Alpha Kelvin arched an eyebrow. “I can’t have you touching all of these for free.”

He scoffed. “It's nothing I have not seen or felt before. Besides, mine looks far better and feels even better. I could show you if you want.”

“Are you guys three years old?” I queried, tired of being ignored. And then, looking directly at the Alpha, I said, “Get dressed.”

He smirked. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Is she this bossy every time?” Alfie asked his cousin. He had gone to stand beside the Alpha and the both of them were now staring at me like I was some sort of strange specimen.

“Yes, she’s always bossy. Gives me a headache every single day by forcing me to work too hard,” Kelvin replied, earning a scowl from me.

“You two are weird,” I said and marched to the closet to get some clothes for him since he didn't seem ready to do so.

It wasn't like I didn't enjoy staring at his naked body but certainly not in front of someone else. It felt like we were in some sort of threesome situation.

I returned with a shirt, a pair of pants and boxer briefs, and resisted the urge to throw them at the Alpha.

Even though I was his mate, I was still supposed to show him some respect, especially when there was someone else present.

“You allow her to go through your underwear too?” Alfie queried with wide eyes.

“That's not part of her job description but Claire here has a massive crush on me and loves to rifle through my personal stuff as a result,” Kelvin replied, his eyes dancing with amusement.

Thank the Goddess that Charles walked in at that time because I had been just about to utter some obscenities in response to the Alpha’s comment.

“It's really you,” the Beta said, his gaze fastened on Alfie.

“I knew Mike was going to go looking for you,” he replied with a grin. “It's so good to see you too.”

They both hugged and once they pulled apart, Charles took in the Alpha’s naked form and merely rolled his eyes.

I cleared my throat loudly. “I’ll be in my room if you need me.”

For a moment, it looked as though he was going to forbid me from leaving but then dismissed me with a wave of his hand.

“Let me walk you to your room,” Alfie said with a too-innocent smile.

“If you don't sit your ass down right now…..” the Alpha growled. “She is off limits.”

“I just wanted to make sure she reached her room safely. That’s all,” he replied with innocent eyes. “Trust me, I am not the man you used to know. I’ve changed.”

Charles snorted. “Yeah right.”

With a sigh, I turned and walked out of the room as they started to argue about Alfie’s deplorable morals.

I got into my room and nearly jumped out of my skin. I hadn't been expecting to see my Aunt Lora sprawled out on my bed by that time of the day.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” she said with a grin on her face.

My lips curled into a smile as I went to join her on the bed. “I just wasn't expecting to see you here before dusk.”

“Don’t tell me that witch gave you guys a break.”

She chuckled. “You know Sophie would never do that. I'm using my advantage as a senior staff member. The others wouldn't complain if I took a break. They all see me as some fragile middle-aged woman.”

“So how did your day at the office go?” she queried.

I told her all about the conversation that the Alpha and I had earlier and she scowled.

“Hope he isn’t thinking about making you his mistress. I would rather die than allow that to happen,” she said.

“Well, he is certainly not going to make me his anything when I kill his father. It's all a matter of time, everyone is going to know where they stand soon enough.”

A moment of silence passed between us before I spoke again.

“Did you know about Alfie, the Alpha’s cousin?”

Her brows furrowed for a moment before her eyes lit up.

“Yes, I do. How could I have forgotten about him?”

“His mom was the one who raised the Alpha when his mother died. Kelvin’s father entrusted him to his late wife’s sister’s care for a couple of years,” she explained.

“Oh,” I whispered.

“Did he tell you anything about him?” she queried.

“Actually, I met Alfie. He is in the Alpha’s room as we speak,” I replied.

Her lips spread into a sad smile. “They were very inseparable as kids. I used to go visit them before that bastard revealed his true intentions.”

“It's a good thing that both the Alpha and his cousin were still really young at that time. They can’t remember who I really am.”

My Aunt left my room after about thirty minutes so I could rest, despite my protest that her being in my room wouldn't affect my rest in any way.

I slept off while scrolling through my phone and wondering why my best friend, Emily, had been unreachable for months.

It was his kiss that woke me up.

In that moment of vulnerability, I dug my fingers into his hair and deepened the kiss.

Every nerve ending in my body flared to life and I felt very awake.

It was when he dragged his lips from mine to focus on my neck and I felt the sharp prick of his canines, that I instantly came back to my senses.

If he marked me, rejecting me was never going to happen.

“You shouldn't do that again,” I said, slightly breathless. “You are married, remember?”

“And you are my mate, remember?” he replied with a scowl.